Archive for June 29th, 2009

Alright, so you’ve no doubt seen plenty of Palm Pre reviews by this point (even if there’s only one you really need), but we’re guessing you haven’t seen one quite like this one from PreCentral forum user Michael Bunker, who has been using the phone completely off the grid for the past three weeks (if you don’t count the cell service, that is). Among other things, Bunker found that the Pre was particularly helpful for selling cows over the internet, keeping watch on any oncoming tornadoes, checking for the cheapest gas prices in the nearby towns, and catching up on the odd TV show (since he doesn’t have an actual TV). Of course, he does also have a few complaints about the phone, including the familiar refrain of hoping to “see some more apps.” Hit up the link below for the full review.

[Via PreCentral.net]

Filed under: Cellphones

Palm Pre finds fan off the grid originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pleo is back, thanks to electronics and entertainment leader Senario, and we want to give you one.

The $349 artificial dinosaur hit the news this April when Ugobe, its creator, filed for bankruptcy. However, it is thankfully still available from web outlets such as Amazon, Target, Best Buy and BotaBingBotaBoom. In July, it will also be sold on QVC Live, followed by the Sharper Image’s Online Store.

It’s no surprise that Dell’s been dipping its toes in Android-infested waters as of late, and now the Wall Street Journal‘s reasserting a previous claim from early April that the company’s hard at work on a MID powered by Google’s mobile OS platform. Multiple sources have reportedly likened it to a slightly larger iPod touch, while one went so far as to suggest a very tentative second half 2009 target release window, assuming the project doesn’t get 187′d before then. Despite its history with Intel and the chipmaker’s penchant for MIDs, the report pegs ARM as the processor of choice. As for how this jibes with rumors of Dell’s smartphone plans, that’s where things get interesting, as WSJ quotes a source who said Dell’s thinking about selling it through cell carriers like it’s currently doing with 3G-equipped netbooks. The article repeatedly calls it a MID — meaning a phone might still be in the cards, but given past whispers, it kind of makes you wonder.

Filed under: Handhelds, Laptops

Dell working on iPod touch-esque Android MID, says WSJ originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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They may be mysterious and perhaps even a bit shady, but secondary equity markets, which allow employees to sell off their shares to other buyers, are quickly heating up. Because of the rarity of IPOs and acquisitions in the startup world these days, early employees and founders are becoming increasingly anxious to convert some of their shares into cash (one need look no further than reports of employees selling Facebook stock at relatively low prices for proof).

Unfortunately, because these markets are trading shares of private companies, buyers and sellers are often left in the dark as to the worth of their stock. SharesPost, a private equity market that’s currently operating in public beta, is looking to help: the site has launched a publication platform for analyst reports meant to complement its equity market. And it’s offering a free two month membership to TechCrunch readers, which you can sign up for here.

As a teaser for what’s available on the platform, the site has shared two valuation reports on some of the world’s biggest social networks: Facebook and LinkedIn. You’ll want to check out the full reports here and here to read the full analysis and methodology (you may have to register).

Last week, Michael Jackson’s death caused sites to fail left and right. Today, it’s a very different problem. The hosting service Rackspace has been completely down for the past 30 minutes or so. Don’t believe us, just listen to Justin Timberlake or Michelle Malkin, both of which have sites on the service and took to Twitter to complain.

Apparently, it’s an entire network outage and so the usually very responsive Rackspace team cannot even respond to emails or tweet (though I’m sure we’ll be seeing some updates from smartphones shortly). Along with sites like Timberlake’s and Malkin’s, the popular event site, EventBrite, is apparently down as well.

ASUS has taken a pretty basic USB Blu-ray drive and given it a fine veneer of high-gloss looks. The SBC-04B1S-U isn’t fancy stuff — 4.8x maximum Blu-ray disc reading, 8x DVD burning, a USB 2.0 connection, and Windows (but not OS X) compatibility. The bright blue ‘X’ on the side also flashes and has a dedicated app just to control its brightness. None of this will help, of course, when the strobing ‘X’ attracts the attention of the entire underground world of paranormal conspiracy theorists to your bedroom as if you threw up the alien Bat-Signal — but, you know, whatever. There’s no word yet on pricing or availability for this attractive, skinny dude.

[Via SlashGear]

Filed under: Home Entertainment

ASUS unleashes USB 2.0 Blu-ray drive — government denies knowledge originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At the beginning of last year, Yahoo made a fairly large acquisition with the purchase of online video distribution and advertising platform provider Maven Networks. Under the terms of the agreement, which we reported as a rumor the same day the papers were signed, the company acquired the startup for approximately $160 million. At the time, the press release touted the acquisition to lead to an expansion of the “state-of-the-art consumer video and advertising experiences on Yahoo.com and Yahoo’s network of leading premium video publishers across the web”.

Now we’ve learned Yahoo is going to kill Maven Networks instead, the most recent in a long series of deadpooling of products and services by the Sunnyvale Internet behemoth. (also see update)

Robots and other devices linked to social networking sites aren’t exactly anything new, but few have been in the form of tiny robot penguins, and even fewer have been tiny robot penguins with hats. That bit of mold-breaking comes courtesy of upstart Arimaz of Switzerland, which is now busy showing off its MyDeskFriend “Facebook companion” that’s set for release this September. As you can see in the video after the break, the bot is able to mosey about your desk without falling off and react to your voice like any good robot, but its real secret is that it can connect to Facebook and read your messages, or even be controlled (some may say tormented) by your real Facebook friends. Look for it to run $99 when it’s released.

[Via Technabob]

Continue reading MyDeskFriend robot penguin will link to Facebook, be a true friend

Filed under: Robots

MyDeskFriend robot penguin will link to Facebook, be a true friend originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We’ve been a bit baffled by the system Apple has in place when it comes to ratings for applications in the App Store. Is it allowing apps with nudity? Not allowing them? Allowing them with a 17+ rating? We’ve talked to some developers willing to break their NDAs because they think the App Store approval process in general is messed up, and would like to see Apple do a better job handling it. So here’s how the ratings system currently works for the App Store.

The Ratings

When you go to submit your app through iTunes Connect, one of the steps takes you to a ratings matrix that you must fill out. This contains 10 questions listed under “Apple Content Descriptions.” For each of the 10 questions you must say “None”, “Infrequent/Mild”, or “Frequent/Intense.” Depending on what answer you give for each of these, the rating of your app in the upper right corner will change. These ratings go from “4+” to “9+” to “12+” to “17+” to “No Rating.”

That last one is key. If your app gets the “No Rating” label, a warning written in red appears underneath it stating that: “This content will not be sold via iTunes.” So what triggers such a rating? Well, not a lot. Basically, it comes down to the final two questions in the 10 question matrix. Let’s run through them in descending order:

Put down that bowl of homemade granola and take heed, citizens of Portland: you’re about to get a first crack at Comcast’s High-Speed 2go service, and we don’t want any of your excuses about “taking a tech sabbatical” or “getting lost in the wilderness” to keep you away from sweet, sweet broadband bundles. Based on Clearwire’s WiMAX service, Comcast High-Speed 2go is available in a “Fast Pack Metro” bundle which packs home internet service, a WiFi router and the WiMAX for $50 a month, with another $20 tacking on nationwide Sprint 3G (along with the appropriate 3G / WiMAX combo card). Existing Triple Play customers can add the WiMAX by itself for $30. Comcast plans to launch similar service in Atlanta, Chicago, and Philadelphia before the end of 2009.

Filed under: Wireless

Comcast launches High-Speed 2go WiMax service tomorrow in Portland, other cities to follow by end of year originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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